As Simple as a Pencil

This is a story that, I think, encapsulates the contrast between Simplicity and Complexity.

“During the space race, the USA spent $11 million dollars developing
a Space Pen that would work in zero gravity conditions.
Russia, on the other hand, used a ... pencil."

Simplicity rules.

Now I've heard that the story isn't quite true, but the essence is based on fact; a Space Pen was developed by Fisher, and it was used in space by NASA.

This has similarities with another story, not perhaps so well known ...

It’s night time and a man is crawling around on
his hands and knees, looking for his car keys
underneath a lamp post. A woman comes along
and starts to help him. After they’ve been searching
together for a while the woman asks the man:
“Are you sure this is where you dropped them?”
The man replies: “No, I think I dropped them
somewhere else.”
“Then why are we looking here?” she enquires.
“Because this is where the light is.”
(from Turbulence 3)

As human being we always look for solutions where the status quo lies (where the light is). If we live in a technological age, then the solutions are always technological. We sometimes lack the vision to look on the fringes for the seemingly less obvious solutions (like the Pencil).

That's where Voluntary Simplicity has its strength. It's not immediately seen as a solution. But when you discover it . . . it becomes so natural and obvious. (like the Pencil).